It was the situation every kid dreams of.

Bottom of the ninth, tie game, full count and a packed stadium. Jake Skole was at the plate.

But this wasn’t a normal baseball game. Skole’s team is called the Party Animals. They were playing against the Indianapolis Clowns. Instead of a number, Skole just had an X on the back of his jersey. This was Banana Ball, the baseball phenomenon that has grown dramatically every year.

And then Skole blasted the ball over the center field fence, a walk-off home run to cap the night at AutoZone Park March 7.

“It’s kind of what you draw up, right?” Skole said. “3-2 count, bottom of the ninth, chance to win the game with a homer. Just the culmination of hard work and putting good swings on balls.”

Skole and the Party Animals beat the Clowns 3-2 for their first win of the season. It was the first time Memphis has hosted Banana Ball, and AutoZone Park did so with a sold-out crowd. While Memphis didn’t get to see the Savannah Bananas, the crowd did get to see a tight game with a walk-off finish.

Banana Ball is baseball — with a twist. Players are trying to pull off trick plays all game. There’s a two-hour time limit. There are impromptu dance contests during the game, and players are walking throughout the concourse to interact with fans while the game is going on.

It’s hugely popular and has helped players like Skole — a former minor leaguer — continue their baseball careers. He was swarmed after the game by kids asking for his autograph.

“It’s a whole game-changer that Banana Ball brings,” he said. “You don’t really have that in all of our pasts, minor league, college games, it wasn’t really like that. A little bit, a couple autographs here, but the connections you get to make with the fans really separates Banana Ball from baseball. Whether I hit a homer or not, I still go outside and these fans love us. That’s what makes it special.”

Jackie Bradley Jr. makes history with Banana Ball

There were a couple of recognizable names on the Clowns’ roster. One was former Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard, the “prime-time coach” for the team. That means he doesn’t appear at every game, and he wasn’t on hand in Memphis.

The other is former Boston Red Sox All-Star Jackie Bradley Jr. He’s the first former MLB player to commit to playing Banana Ball full-time.

Bradley said he has enjoyed his experience so far and hopes Banana Ball returns to Memphis in the future.

“It was amazing,” he said. “They showed some love. And it was a tight game. So hopefully they were all into it.”

Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or on X @thejonahdylan.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Banana Ball makes Memphis debut with sold-out crowd and a walk-off win